Dr. Wilson: I’d prefer that you quit altogether because of your blood pressure. But if you choose to drink at all, it would be best to stay within some pretty strict limits.

Mr. Jackson: Well, I’d rather not stop completely if I don’t have to. What kind of limits do you mean?

Dr. Wilson: The maximum limits for a man your age are no more than 4 drinks a day and no more than 14 in a week. Because of your blood pressure, I would recommend no more than 2 drinks on any day and no more than 7 a week. We’d like you to try it out for a couple of months, and then we’ll have you come back in and check your weight and blood pressure.

Mr. Jackson: Well, I think I can do that. It’s not like I have to have a drink.

Dr. Wilson: OK, just so we’re clear, we’re talking about no more than 2 drinks a day and no more than 7 drinks a week.

Mr. Jackson: Right, got it.

Dr. Wilson: Here are some things that can help you keep track. Since beer comes in different sized containers, I just want to be sure you know that a 12-ounce beer counts as one drink. Here’s the number of drinks in other sizes. Also, here are some calendars to help you keep track, and some tips on cutting down. We’ll check your progress in 2 months.